One of your child’s teeth can become loose if they get in an accident or bite on something hard. If your child has a loose baby tooth, remember that the tooth is supposed to come out eventually. They'll start to lose their baby teeth around the age of five or six.​

However, sometimes, a permanent tooth can become loose. Our emergency pediatric dentist in Tampa will evaluate your child's loose tooth. They'll perform x-rays as necessary to determine the best course of action, ensuring protection of his or her mouth and the affected tooth.

Teeth can get knocked out due to:

• Getting hit in the face with a ball​
• Tripping or falling during physical activities
• Running into something​ 

While knocked-out teeth are common, they can be scary. It's important to know what steps to take if your child loses a tooth:

• Control the bleeding with gauze and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.
• Locate the tooth
• Pick the tooth up with a tissue or cloth (avoid touching the tooth root)
• Place the tooth in a container with milk or saline solution
• Call us immediately during our business hours.

If your child breaks or chips a tooth, try to locate the tooth fragment, rinse your child's mouth with warm water, and gently use dental floss to remove debris around the tooth. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling, and call us immediately to schedule an appointment. Our dentist will treat the broken tooth promptly.

Seek urgent emergency dental care if you believe your child has a broken jaw. Signs include:

• Swelling and bruising on gums, lips, or chin
• Misshapen or crooked jaw
• Loose or missing teeth
• Numbness or tingling on the lower lip or chin

If this happens during our regular business hours, call us, and we can direct you on what immediate actions you can take while you get your child to an emergency dentist. Afterward, you should call us to schedule an appointment.

Toothaches can be caused by factors such as:

• Trauma to the tooth
• Tooth decay
• Abscess

A toothache might indicate an underlying dental issue. Rinse your child's mouth with warm water, gently use dental floss around the affected tooth to remove debris, and apply a cold compress to help reduce swelling. Then, call us immediately for prompt emergency dental care during our regular business hours.

Suggestions to help your child avoid tooth injuries:

• Don’t let your child chew on ice, popcorn kernels, or other hard foods.
• Childproof your house to prevent falls.
• Always place children in a car seat or seat belt.
• Make sure they wear helmets during physical activities.
• Have us create a custom mouthguard for sports activities to protect teeth from injury.